MAKERGEAR M3-ID User manual

1 - Welcome
2 - Important Safeguards
3 - What’s Included
4 - Hardware Setup
7 - A Note About Nozzles
8 - Software Setup
9 - Changing Filament
10 - M3-ID Features
13 - What’s the Function?
14 - Shutdown & Reset Procedures
15 - Maintenance & Storage
16 - Warranty & Support
17 - About Us
Contents

1
Welcome
Your MakerGear M3-ID 3D Printer has arrived!
Do not change the M3-ID’s rmware unless you know exactly
what you’re doing or have been instructed to do so by
MakerGear support.
This User Guide can also be found on the MakerGear website at
setup.makergear.com, where you can access additional,
more specic information and resources.
Following minimal setup, your M3-ID is ready to print out-of-the-box. To
ensure safety as well as high quality printing, carefully follow the setup
instructions included in this User Guide.
This printer was assembled at the MakerGear shop in Beachwood, Ohio,
USA, and was tested for at least six hours to ensure that it was fully
operational at the time of shipping.
Do not remove the lm of yellow polyimide tape from the
M3-ID’s glass build plate; this functions as the print surface,
and should be facing up.

3. To protect against electrical shock, do not put the printer body, cord,
or electrical plug in liquid. If the printer falls into liquid, do not touch it.
Instead,unplugtheprinterfrompoweroutlet,thenremoveitimmediately.
Do not reach into the liquid without unplugging the printer rst.
4.Thisprintershould not beused bychildren unless supervised byan adult
who understands the risks and precautions involved in its use. To avoid
potentialinjuries,closesupervisionisnecessarywhentheprinterisusedby
or near children.
2.Unplugthepowercordwhentheprinterisnotinuse.Tounplug,graspthe
plug and rmly pull it from power outlet. You should never pull the cord.
5. Avoid any contact with moving parts. The printer can move quickly, so
stay clear to avoid being struck or pinched.
6.Keephands/hair/clothingawayfromprinterattachmentswhiletheprinter
isoperatingtoreduceriskofinjurytopersonsand/ordamagetotheprinter.
7. Do not operate the printer if it has a damaged cord/plug, is
malfunctioning, or has been dropped or damaged in any way. If
you are having any problems with the printer (such as temperature
errors, unexplained shutdowns, or other erratic behavior), unplug
the printer from power outlet and contact support. Do not operate a
malfunctioning printer.
1.The following safeguards exist to ensure the safety of users and to avoid
potential risks. Ignoring these safeguards can cause damage to the printer
and its environment.
8. Keep area around the printer clear. The heated build platform moves
horizontally and vertically and may cause the printer to move or damage
other equipment if it strikes them.
2
Important Safeguards

3
Power supply and cord.
If your power supply
has a voltage switch
as shown to the right,
ensure that it is set to
the correct voltage.
Tool kit: hex drivers, tweezers, lament
guide tube, feeler gauge, brush, and 4
extraglassbuildplatehold-downclips.
Two 1 kg spools of 1.75 mm PLA
(colors may vary).
2 spool holders with screws and
sample container, both of which were
printed on an M3-ID.
What’s Included

4
1. Carefully compress and remove the foam from the top of the printer and
from inside the printer frame.
2. Remove foam from above and below the 4-legged“spider” inside the
frame.Removetheheatedbuildplatformfromitsslotinthefoamandplace
it on the spider with the glass build plate facing up, as shown on page 5.
3. Grasp the printer where the arrows indicate, and remove it from the box.
Hardware Setup

5
4. Remove the binder clip, and rotate the hold-down clips to point toward
the front and back of the glass build plate in order to secure it in place.
5. Install both spool holders as shown on page 10, using the 4 screws
includedwitheachandthe3mmallenkeyandensuringthatthelongerside
is facing up. Place one PLA spool on the T1 (right) spool holder so that the
lament unwinds counter clockwise and place the other PLA spool on the
T0 (left) spool holder so that it unwinds clockwise.

6. Insert the 6-position power supply connector into the 6-position
electronics connector, making sure that it is SECURELY IN PLACE in the
electronicscase.Connectthepowersupplycordtothepowersupply.Next,
plug the power supply into power outlet, and ip the switch on the power
supply to the on position.
6

VisittheMakerGearYouTubechannel forstep-by-stepinstructionson
how to remove the V4 hot end and remove/mount a nozzle.
The nozzle is the brass conical piece with a six sided base. It attaches to
the other parts of the hot end and dispenses material through a precisely
sized hole.
If you wish to remove or change the nozzle, you must rst remove the
entire hot end. Attempting to unscrew the nozzle directly from the M3-ID
will damage the hot end.
Some of our users choose to print with nozzles that are either larger or
smaller than the 0.35 mm nozzle included on the M3-ID in order to
accommodate specic printing needs. If you plan to print with dierent-
sized nozzles, we recommend keeping each nozzle installed in a separate
hot end, as this allows you to switch between nozzles more easily.
7
A Note About Nozzles

Usingadesktoporlaptopcomputer,navigatetosetup.makergear.comand
follow the provided steps.
Step 1: On the Setup page, enter your printer’s serial number, which is
located on the inside of the printer’s frame. Next, connect your computer
totheM3-ID’sWi-Fi,usingtheprovidednetworknameandpassword,inthe
same way that you would connect to any other Wi-Fi source.
Step 2: After moving to the Step 2 tab, click the temporary setup link and
log in to OctoPrint with the provided username and password.
8
Software Setup
The onboard software supplied on the MakerGear M3-ID is a specialized
version of OctoPrint called OctoPrint for MakerGear. It is an open-source,
easy-to-use tool that gives users total control over their 3D printing work-
ow.
OctoPrint’s basic functions include simple tasks such as controlling and
monitoring your printer, as well as more advanced operations like slicing
les. It can be expanded through its versatile plugin system, a diverse
libraryofcommunity-developedpluginsoeringspecializedfunctionality,
which is useful for all users.
Step3:OctoPrintwillinformyouthatyouarenotconnectedtotheinternet.
Click “Wireless Conguration,” then select your home network and enter
your home network’s password. Connecting may take a few minutes. If
OctoPrintcontinuestosayyouarenotconnectedtotheinternet,refreshthe
page.

1. In OctoPrint, go to the “Temperature” tab to heat the extruder to the
appropriate temperature. In the “Control”tab, select the tool you want to
work with. If switching between lament materials (e.g., PLA to ABS), heat
the extruder to the hotter of the two materials’ printing temperatures in
order to purge the old material and properly extrude the new material.
2.Inthe“Control”tab,click“Retract”whilepullinggentlyontheoldlament
until it is released from the lament drive.
3. Cut the end of the new material at an angle and feed it into the lament
drive. While applying gentle downward pressure, click“Extrude”until you
can see the lament extruding from the nozzle.
9
Changing Filament
You will nothavetogothroughthesetupprocessagain unless youchange
networksorfactoryrestoretheprinter.Afteryou’reconnectedtotheprinter,
proceed to OctoPrint’s Quick Check, which will help you load the lament
andensurethattheheatedbuildplatformoftheprinterstayedlevelduring
shipping. Once you complete the Quick Check, the printer will be ready to
print.
There are three dierent modes for controlling the M3-ID:
• In Independent Movement mode, the tools do not aect one another.
• In Park mode, parking one tool moves the other to the same position.
• In Duplication mode, both heads move together simultaneously.
Both heads are capable of printing a single print, which can be sliced in
OctoPrint. Simplify3D is necessary for slicing dual prints.

10
M3-ID Features
Front

11
M3-ID Features
Rear

12
M3-ID Features
X-Stage Assembly

What’s the Function?
Simple explanations of M3-ID Features
40x10 mm Fans (24 V) cool lament drives and RAMBo board.
40x15 mm Fans (24 V) cool printed layers (as needed).
6-Position Power Connector brings low voltage DC power to M3-ID.
Extruder Wire Mounts locate and clamp connectors for extruders.
Filament Drives pull lament into extruders.
Filament Guides guide lament from spools to lament guide tubes.
Filament Guide Tubes guide lament from lament guides to lament
drives.
Glass Build Plate (with polyimide lm) serves as the print surface.
Heated Build Platform (HBP) controls glass build plate temperature.
M3-ID Serial Number is a unique identier for each printer.
RAMBo Housing shields and cools RAMBo processor board.
Raspberry Pi Housing shields the Raspberry Pi communications module.
Reset Button resets the control electronics and shuts down the printer.
T0/T1 Limit Switches set“home” positions for X-axis motion.
T0/T1 Print Heads deposit printing material and cool print.
T0/T1 Spool Holders secure the lament spools during printing.
Touch Probe helps level your bed and ensure rst layer adhesion.
USB Port allows communication between external computer and RAMBo.*
V4 Hot Ends melt lament and control extruded diameter of lament.
X-Axis Belts keep extruders in sync with X-motors.
X-Axis Rail guides extruders during side-to-side movement.
Y-Axis Belt keeps heated build platform in sync with Y-motor.
Y-Axis Limit Switch sets “home” position for Y-axis motion.
Y-Axis Rail guides heated build platform during front-to-back movement.
Z-Axis Fine Adjust Knob is for last-minute changes to the distance
between nozzle and glass build plate.
Z-Axis Leadscrew rotates to move HBP up and down.
Z-Axis Limit Switch sets “home” position for Z-axis motion.
*USB use is not recommended—see Software Setup on page 8.
13

Shutdown & Reset Procedures
Do not switch o the power supply to turn o the MakerGear M3-ID.There
are two ways to properly shut it down:
1. Navigate to the printer’s OctoPrint interface and click the power button
icon. Next, click “Shutdown system,” then, “Proceed.”
2. To manually shut down the M3-ID, hold down the reset button for 10
seconds and release the button.
After performing either of these methods, you will hear a series of tones
indicatingthat the printerhas a) started the shutdownprocedureand b)
nishedtheshutdownprocedure,andthegreenlighttotheleftofthered
light on the raspberry pi will ash and then shut o. Once the green light
has turned o, it is safe to switch o the M3-ID’s power supply.
1. Disconnects the printer from its current network and returns it to
Access Point mode (AP mode).
2. Resetstheaccesspointnetworkname/passwordtoitsoriginalfactory
state.
3. Resets the OctoPrint username/password to its original factory state.
M3-ID Shutdown Procedures
The manual reset button, which is located on the front of the M3-ID, resets
the control electronics.The manual reset button should not be used while
the M3-ID is printing, unless you wish to stop the printer as quickly as
possible.
• Pushing and releasing the reset button will reset the control electronics
board.
• Holdingdowntheresetbuttonformorethan60secondsbeforereleasing
willbeginthe systemrestoreprocess.Thisshould only be done in special
circumstances, such as when passwords are lost. The system restore
performs the following operations:
M3-ID Reset and Restore Procedures
14

Maintenance & Storage
Weekly Maintenance (every 50 hours)
Ensure that the heated build platform (HBP) is at the correct height and
properly leveled. To do so, log in to OctoPrint and proceed through the
QuickStart process in order to complete the following steps:
1) Check Starting Height for Both Extruders 2) Check HBP Level
Ensure that the glass build plate is free of defects (torn or bubbled
polymidetape)anddust/dirt/grease,andreplacetapeorcleansurfacewith
appropriate cleaner (alcohol/water at 50%/50% is recommended).
Monthly Maintenance (every 200-250 hours)
Ensure that the printer is free of dust and lament debris, and clean it if
necessary. Focus areas include fans and fan guards, lament surface and
lament drive, and the entire frame. Clean the oil from the X and Y linear
rails and apply a fresh coat to each. A dot of oil in each of the long grooves
on the X and Y rails is sucient. Once applied, move each axis through its
full travel multiple times to spread the oil.
15
• IfyouareusingtheM3-IDregularly,turnoandunplugthepowersupply
when nished.
• If you are storing the M3-ID for a period of 1-2 weeks, follow the
instructions listed above. Additionally, fully seal the lament spool in a
bag, preferably with a new desiccant packet inside.
• If you are storing the M3-ID for a period of 2 weeks or more, follow all
above instructions, THEN cover the entire printer in order to protect it
from the buildup of dust and other airborne particles.
DO NOT unscrew the nozzle directly from the M3-ID. To change or remove
the nozzle, the entire hot end must be removed. Visit our website or the
MakerGearYouTubechannelforstep-by-stepinstructionsonhowtoremove
a hot end and change the nozzle.
M3-ID Storage

Warranty & Support
New M3-IDs ordered from MakerGear or from an authorized MakerGear
distributorhaveaTwelve-MonthLimitedWarranty.MakerGear will replace
defective parts on M3-IDs that are under warranty. Replacement parts
may be new or refurbished and include free shipping in the US. Non-US
customers are responsible for shipping costs for replacement parts.
TheM3-IDhasanopendesign(noproprietarycartridges)andM3-IDowners
arefree to use thirdpartylament.However, theMakerGearhot endis only
coveredwhenMakerGear lament andauthentic MakerGear components
are used. Due to variance in quality, MakerGear is unable to provide
technical support for issues related to third party lament. If you are using
lament or extruder components from a third party, you must contact
yoursupplier fortechnicalsupport.Thetwelve-monthwarrantyoeredby
MakerGear does not cover printer abuse.
16
Technical Support lives on our website at
www.makergear.com/pages/support
Warranty
Exceptions
Support
Notice
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this product may
cause radio interference requiring the user to take adequate measures to
mitigate. The MakerGear M3-ID can, in very rare cases, stop operating due
to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Operation can be restored by turning the
machine o and on again.

About Us
Welcome to the family!
Our company began as a hobby in an unheated residential garage, way
backin2009,whenourFounder&CEO,Rick,washand-makingpartsforthe
edglingdesktop3Dprintingcommunity.Today,weapply strict standards
to our printers, which are made and tested in the USA using domestic and
foreign parts. Yet despite countless improvements and advancements
during the years since MakerGear’s humble beginnings, our dedication to
quality and community remains unchanged.
Ourworkrevolvesaroundprovidingthreethings:qualityprinters,excellent
customer service, and a user-centric 3D printing experience. Focusing on
these three pillars has resulted in outstanding customer reviews, awards,
andtop-ratedrecognitioninpublicationsbothinandoutofthe3Dprinting
world.
Our customers include schools, engineers, entrepreneurs, designers,
businesses, and DIYers in more than 75 countries, many of whom are
involvedinouractive,growingandextremelyhelpfulcommunity,locatedat
forum.makergear.com.
For general inquiries, you can reach us by email at [e-mail].
For technical assistance, please visit our website’s support page to access
our support resources as well as instructions for how to submit a support
ticket.
We’re here when you need us. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and
create something! Thanks for choosing MakerGear.
The MakerGear Team
17

What are you making? Tag
#madewithMAKERGEAR
for a chance to be featured!
©2017 MakerGear. MakerGear LLC
23632 Mercantile Road Unit G
Beachwood, Ohio, US 44122
@MakerGear